Thread spool and the method of constructing the same



May 14, 1940. L. H. MQRIN ET AL THREAD SPO0L AND'THE METHOD OF CONSTRUGTING THE SAME Filed March 21, 1939 INVENTORS Day/s Mmovs/rr BY 100/6 19. Mon/1v.

ATID'ORNE Patented May 14, 1940 UNITED STATES THREAD SPOOL' AND THE METHOD OF CONSTRUC'IING THE SAME Louis a. Mean and Davis Marinsky, Bromc'MY. Application March 21, 1939, Serial 80,, 283.136

'1 Claims. ('01. 112-251) I This invention relates to thread spools such as spools used in connection with the shuttles of sewing machines or to any other type and kind of spool for supporting threads, lines, cords, wires and the like. More particularly the invention relates to the method of constructing end flanges of spooled strands of thetype and kind under consideration wherein the strands are crosswound on the spools so that each winding will '1 engage part of the spool flanges for the purpose of preventing accidental or undesirable unravelling of the strand, and still further in using wax 'or paraflin flanges which will also give to the strand waxing or lubricating properties. The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosedand in which the separate parts are desl ignated by suitable reference characters in each of the views, and in which: Fig. 1 is a sectional view through .a bobbin showing one method of carrying the invention into effect. i Fig. 2 is a face view of the bobbin as seen in Fig. 1.

'Fig. 3 is a perspective'view'of the bobbin indicating part of the thread unravelled therefrom.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing another adaptation of the invention.

step of dipping a bobbin wound upon a tubular core or mandrel and applying a waxed flange to one surface thereof. r

i Fig. 6 isa diagrammatic view similar to Fig. 5

indicating the next step in the operation.

' Fig. '1 is a diagrammatic view showing the step of forming a name or mark impression on the surface of the flange. I

n Fig. 8 is a view showing'ithe method of stripping the flanged bobbin from a supporting spindle and the delivery of the product onto a chute, and

Fig. 9is a diagrammatic view showing another method of applying the plastic flanges to both 5 side surfaces, ofhlthe bobbin thread,

In the construction of various types and kinds of spools of the character under consideration,

that is to say, spools for thebobbin threads used in the shuttlesof sewing machines, and in other 0 thread spools, including fish-line spools and cord or strand spools, and in fact spools of wire, it has been the common practice to use metal, wood,

paper or other materialsin the construction of the flange portions thereof or the side discs of I the. spool. There have been spools constructed Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the of combinations of woodand metal. paper and metal, etc., but in all structures of this type and kind, the cost of the spool has been expensive and these spools when the thread or other strand has been consumed, represented an outstanding 5 waste. Furthermore, the bobbins of this type and kind have been objectionable in their use in connection with high speedsewingm'achines, by reason of the unravelling of the thread on the bobbin in the quick stopping of the machine.

It is the purpose of our invention to economize 1 on-the construction of spools of the type and kind under consideration, and in illustrating one adaptation of the invention, we refer to the method vof treating or processing spools, bearing in. mind m that the same principles of this invention are applicable to the construction of. spools of anyother type and kind especially wherein the strands are wound in crossed relationship.

- In Figs. 1, '2 and 3 of the drawing is shown a U finished bobbin spool I0 comprising a tubular or other core or mandrel l I upon which is wound in the crossed relationship illustrated in Fig. 3 the thread I2 used upon the bobbin in question. It

will be understood that this thread may be of ii any texture, color and the like to suitthe intended purpose. Upon opposite side surfaces of the wound threads andthe ends of the tubular core or mandrel II are arranged facings I3, Ila of wax, paraflin, or other similar materials or com- 80 positions suitable for the intended purpose.- These facings are thicker at the central axial portions I4. thereof than the outer peripheral edges I5 and extend to the greatest diameter of the spool so as to contact the outermostthreads 8i" thereon. The facings I3, I3a may be said to form the flanges ,of the spool, and these flanges have trade-marks or other impressions it formed on the outer surfaces thereof. It will of course be understood that the marks can be applied to one 40 and the other facing or flange "a may be of a It contrasting color. I

By reason of the cross-winding of the thread or strand I2, it will appear that each winding extends to the peripheral edge of the spool and therefore will contactat least one of the flanges 50' V I3, I3a so that in unravelling or removing the strand I2 from the spool, spaced waxed sections I'Za will be arranged thereon as indicated in Fig. 3 of the drawing. These waxed sections will supply the strand with a suflicient amount of wax or II I lubricant to facilitate the use of the strand in sewing machines, and even though a colored wax be employed in the flanges which might be contrasting t the color of the thread, the spreading u of the waxed points He in passing through a machine will render the wax coloring-substantially,

if not entirely,.invisible in the resulting stitch. This would be especially true in the lighter shades, whereas in darker wax shades a slight o representation may appear, but this would not be objectionable. It will of course be apparent that in most instances the coloring of the flanges will beconsistent with thecoloring of the thread employed. The wax flanges will also facilitate the use of bobbins of the type and kind, in sewing machine shuttles, and it will also appear that in the consumption of the thread, the flanges I3.

I 3a will be substantially consumed. In this connection it must be understood that the illustrations in the accompanying drawing are purely diagrammatic for clearness of showing and that the wax film upon the surfaces of the bobbin forming the flanges will in fact be relatively thin.

in Fig. 4 of the drawing one of many other 2 adaptations of the invention is illustrated. In this showing, a conical tubular core Ila is shown upon which is wound the cord, thread or other strand i1. At l3, la is shown the composition end flanges similar to the flanges l3, l3a which will form, by reason of the cross-winding of the cord or strand upon the core Ha, waxed sections Ila at spacedintervals longitudinally of the strand ll the same as the sections Mia. The only difierence is that the section l'la will be spaced further apart in that the spool shown in Fig. 4 is of greater width than the spool shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive. It will of course be apparent that the threads or strands l2, I! may be said to be secured to the flanges l3, Illa, I8,

I8a,,but this securing is not sufficient to prevent free unwinding of the threads or strands, but to the contrary is sufficient to retain the threads or strands against accidental unravelling. Th'is is especially desirable in the use of 46 bobbin spools in high speed sewing machines especially of the factory type, the operation of which is constantly stopped. .This securing means will prevent the unravelling of threads on" the bobbin spool as will be apparent.

-50 W'hfleit will be understood that the facings or flanges of composition material having the characteristics herein deflned can be applied by hand dipping or otherwise. It is desirable in the'commercial production of wound spools of .55 this type and kind for supply .to the trade to apply these flanges or facings in an automatic manner.

In Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive, we have diagrammatically illustrated one method of applying the -50 facings, and in Figs. 5 and 6, l9 represents a vat temperature of the material 20. At 23 is shown [an overflow into a supplemental receptacle 2! so' as to maintain a' fixed level of the material 20 in thecontainer or vat l9. Suitable means may be provided as at 25 for replacing the material as consumed by introducing granular or other composition particles into the container 75 or by injecting intermittently heated material from a pre-heating source and part of which may represent the overflow to the receptacle 24.

At 26 is shown a spindle upon the end of which may be applied the Wound spool consisting of the tubular core II and the threads 12. Thespool may be applied to the spindle 26 by hand or automatically through the medium of a suitable machine having a hopper or other feed of the wound spools for delivery and mounting upon the spindle. After. being mountedon the spindle, the spindle is operated to'move the spool in the direction of the material 20. This movement is suflicient to contact one side surface 21 of the spool with the material 2|], the

1 spool beingheld in this position for ashort pe- -riod of time. The spindle 26 is held against rotation atthis particular stage, after which the spindle 28 is raised in the position shown'in Fig. 6 and is then quickly rotated by suitable means so that, through the action of centrifugal force, the soft and unhardened wax will be dischargedfr'om the spool in the manner indicated.

spindle 261s raised and then moved into engagement with an impression plate 29 preferably cooled by the circulation of water through tubes 3!! therein. The plate has impressions for forming markings such as l6 shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing in the wax facing or flanges while still in a warmand relatively soft state.

The next operation consists in moving the spindle upwardly while supporting a stripper plate 3| adjacent the spindle so as to strip the spool from the spindle 26 in the manner illustrated in Fig. 8 of the drawing. The stripped applying different colored facings orflanges on V opposite sides of the spool. or final facing or flange has been applied, the spool will be stripped from the spindle and applied to a conveyor such as 32 for transmission to suitable packaging, boxing or other means, depending entirely upon the manner of -merchandising the product in question. In operating at high speeds, it'will be' apparent that the spools when fully treated or surfaced may be passed. through suitable cooling or chilling means to thoroughly harden the" facings or flanges before wrapping, packing or otherdisposal thereof.

At this time it is well to bearin mind that waxes and paraflinsof various characteristics may be employed. This is also true of the compositions that may be used considering the same from the standpoint of hardness of the material or other characteristics thereofwhich would adapt the materials to distinct uses. For example in the production of bobbins, the different materials may be used in conjunction with dif- After the second ferent types and kinds of threads, whereas in of fact it is within the spirit of the invention to produce flanges or facing's for spools of the type and kind under consideration of any kind of plastic material. In some instances, this may be solely for the purpose of forming the flanges and not necessarily to incorporate the adhering characteristics heretofore mentioned. From this latter standpoint, it. will be apparent that such compositions need not necessarily include wax or paramn bases.

In Fig. 9 of the drawing we have illustrated.

diagrammatically another method of applying the flanges or facings to the spool. 33, 33a represents two spray nozzlesfor'spraying as indicated at Blfa suitable composition upon both' side surfaces of a spool [0a consisting 'of a tubular core 35 with, the threads or strands 36 wound thereon. In forming flanges or facings 31, 31a at opposite sides of the spool as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 9, the flanges are similar to the flanges i3, its as will be apparent. The spool Illa will be arranged upon a spindle 38 whichwill be revolved slowly in spraying the material on the side surfaces of the spool. the spray isshut off by suitable means, the speed of rotation of the spool or the spindle 38, may be increased so that the surplus of coating material will be cast of! by centrifugal action, the

' same as taught in Fig. 6 of thedrawing-Ahe material passing into hoods 39 arranged at each side of the spool in the manner illustrated. Thereafter, the spindle with the coated spool thereon may be moved out of the hoods and then a stripper plate like 3| will be arranged to engage the surface 31, and a die plate similar to 29 moved into ensagementwith the surface 31a, after which the last named die plate will be removed and the spool will be stripped off by the flrstmentioned stripper plate and delivered by; a chuteor other conveyor to a packing or distributing'point. In this arrangement the stripper plate employed may also form a die plate.

It will of course be apparent that in some instances the spool "may be sprayed or otherwise coated on one side only, and the-steps of the process. as illustrated in Figs. 7 and}! may be carried out in the individual treatment of the separate sides. In this connection it will be understood thatin a continuous process, it will be desirable to use in the second stage of stripping, a stripper plate having a surface conforming substantially to the contour of the coating material,

rather than a flat-plate as is shown in Fig. 8.

- It will also be understood that the dies, such as '29, may be used not only to apply marks of identiflcation, but also to give a deflnitecontour to the flanges or side surfaces of the spool, and to produce smooth, flnished outer surfaces thereon.

a In forming the facings or flanges on the spool,

it will be understood that the plastic material employed will impregnate the thread at' the points Ila, "a, and these impregnated points or sections will be arranged on each, winding-by facings, flanges or heads of the spool.

Having fully described our invention, what we,

claim as newand desire to secureby Letters In this figure,

When

reason of'the contact witlr-at least one of the side flanges or facings of spools, whichconsists 2. The herein-described method of fror m the side flanges or facings of spools, which con- ,sistsln arranging a spool body consisting of cross-wound strands upon a supporting spindle, thenapplying a heated-wax-like composition to one surface of said strand body, then rotating shaping the applied composition material to form one facing of said SPOOLthBIl applying the product thus formed on a spindle to expose the un- 5 covered surface of said body, and then applying a composition to said surface, again rotating the spindle to remove surplus composition, and finally chilling and shaping the second surface to complete the formation of the spool.

3. The herein described method of producing spools of the character described, which consists in flrst winding upon a suitable core a strand of material in cross-windings to form a circumfersaid spindleat high speed to throw ofi unsolidified portions of said composition through the action of centrifugal force, then chilling andential strand body on said core, each turn of the windings extending to opposite sides of said body,

and then applying a heated wax base composi-- tion directly to'theside surfaces of said strand body to form coatings on the sides of the spool directly contacting each of the turns. of the strand where exposed at the sides of said spool. 4:. The herein described method of producing spools of the character described, which consists in flrst winding upon a suitable core astrand of material in cross-windings to. form a circumferential strand body on said core, each turn of the windings'extending to opposite sides of said body, then applying a heated wax' base composi tion directly to the side surfaces of said strand body to form coatings on [the sides of the spool directly contacting each of the turns of the strand where exposed at the sides of said spool,

. and then 'chiliing'and-shaping the coatingsto the desired 5. A spool. of strand-like material comprising a core with the strand-like material wound in-cross relationship thereonto expose each turn of the winding at, atleast oneside of .the spool, a thin wax coating extending from the core to the outermost windings of the strand on the spool at each side of the spool to contact the exposed turns, of the strand at said sides, the coating forming at each side of the spool walls constituting the sole support and cover for the strand material of said spool, and the inherent properties of the wax walls being such as to unite with the exposed portion of e. windings of said strand to retain the windings or turns against accidental unravelling. r 6. A spool of strand-like material comprising a core with the strand-like material wound in cross relationship thereonto expose each turn of the windingat at least one side of the spool, a thin wax coating extending from; the core to the outermost windings of the strand on the spool at each side of the spool to contact the exposed turns of the strand at said sides, the coating forming at each side of the spool walls constitut ing the sole support and cover tor the strand material of said spool, the inherent properties of the wax walls being such as to unite" with the exposed portion of the windings of said strand to retain the windings or turns against accidental unravelling, and at least'one of the coatings being of a color substantially similar to the color of the strand onrsaid spool, and impressions on the outer surface or at least one'of said coat-- to expose each turn of the threaduat at least on side of the spool, means comprising side. surface length of each turn or winding of the thread 01 the spool.

LOUIS H. Mom. DAVIS MARINSKY. 

